Kent State Men's Basketball Announces Full 2026-2027 Schedule
9/16/2026 9:58:00 AM | Men's Basketball
KENT — The Kent State University Men's Basketball team has released its full slate for the 2026-2027 season, Head Coach Rob Senderoff announced on Wednesday.
"I'm excited to finally be able to release the schedule to our fans for this season.", said coach Senderoff. "It took longer this year than any previous year for us to get everything completed with the non-conference portion. We play a bunch of very challenging games to start the year, especially games on the road and at neutral sites. Those challenges should have us prepared for, what looks like on paper, one of the best and most competitive MAC seasons in my tenure. I also want to thank Xavier and Coach Pitino for hosting us on Oct. 23 in a pre-season exhibition game. This will be the first time any of my teams have played an "open to the public" preseason game and I know my guys will be excited for that opportunity as well. I hope we get a great crowd down in Cincinnati that night. I also hope to see everyone in the M.A.C. Center this winter. Go Flashes!"
Kent State will play in four states before Mid-American Conference play tips off in December. The Golden Flashes open the preseason with an exhibition matchup at Xavier on Friday, Oct. 23.
Kent State opens the regular season on the road as part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge, facing Louisiana Tech in Ruston on Nov. 2, before returning to the M.A.C. Center for their home opener against Roberts Wesleyan on Nov. 6. They then travel to face the University of North Carolina Wilmington on Nov. 11, before coming home to host Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 16.
The Blue and Gold then renews a series against one their oldest foes with trip to Cleveland State on Nov. 21. KSU will then travel to Daytona Beach, Fla., to take on Wyoming as part of the Sunshine Slam on Nov. 24. Kent State's final non-conference matchup before MAC play begins will be at home against Malone on Nov. 29.
Kent State Men's Basketball will open Mid-American Conference play at home against Bowling Green on Dec. 2. They then hit the road for back-to-back games, traveling to Toledo on Dec. 5 and to Central Michigan on Dec. 9, before returning to the M.A.C. Center to host UMass on Dec. 12.
Following the start of MAC play, the Blue and Gold will compete in the 65th WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, the oldest collegiate holiday basketball tournament in the nation. The Golden Flashes will play on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21 against opponents to be determined. KSU is joined in the multi-team event by Howard, Omaha, and hosting UTEP. Kent State won the event during the 2022-2023 season.
Kent State opens the new year at home against Buffalo on Jan. 2, then travels to Ball State on Jan. 5 and to Western Michigan on Jan. 9. They then return home to face Ohio on Jan. 12 and Miami (OH) on Jan. 16, before traveling again at Eastern Michigan on Jan. 19 and at Bowling Green on Jan. 23. Kent State closes out January with a pair of home games, hosting Ball State on Jan. 26 and Central Michigan on Jan. 30, before traveling to Miami (OH) on Feb. 2.
The Golden Flashes then round out non-conference play hosting their opponent in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge on Feb. 6 prior to a road matchup at UMass on Feb. 9.
Kent State's first meeting with the University of Akron this season is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 13 in the M.A.C. Center. The Flashes continue at home against Western Michigan on Feb. 16, before two consecutive road games at Buffalo on Feb. 20 and at Ohio on Feb. 23.
Kent State wraps up the home portion of its schedule against Toledo on Feb. 27 and Eastern Michigan on March 2, before closing out the regular season on the road with the rematch against Akron on Friday, March 5.
The Golden Flashes will play 32 regular season games total including their 22-game conference schedule in which they will play each of its 11 MAC opponents home and away.
For information on season tickets or other ticket packages, contact the Athletics Ticket Office at 330-672-4455 or by emailing athletictickets@kent.edu.
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